Best Visa For An "in Between"

[Mark Wolfe]

First, forgive me for not doing an extensive search; you probably have this covered somewhere else.

I am 46 so I don't qualify for the retirement visa, and frankly, probably don't need one. What I am thinking of is coming to Thailand to stay for six months to a year (more if all goes well). Basically, I am an editor/writer who needs to get away from where I have been for the last 20 years (Taiwan) and seek a suitable place to do some writing.

It seems that the visas available are either too short (a month) or not applicable to me. I have a fixed income such that I will not need to seek work in Thailand. I can show bank statements of financial wherewithal that could provide a nice living (work-free) even in the United States.

I am wondering if I were to show that I would be doing nothing but putting money into the kingdom (and not as a backpacker), would I be able to get a courtesy visa?

So what sort of visa should I try for?

Thanks for your help.

M

[george]

A multiple entry Non-Immigrant visa is your best choice.

[Mark Wolfe]

A multiple entry Non-Immigrant visa is your best choice.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the quick reply.

Anyone have any idea if the Taiwanese are amenable to this?

[lopburi3]

You are not going to get a curtesy visa.

You might be able to get a multi entry non imm visa as George says; perhaps in Australia, which allows 90 day stays.

If you have 3 million baht you can tie up in an investment here that might provide a chance for continuous stay.

Other methods would be business or educational but would require involvement and paperwork.

[thaiflyer1]

As already suggested a multi non imm o is the way to go if you can get one granted .............failing this a triple entry tourist visa would be your best bet enabling you to stay 270 days in total, however this total includes extending at local immigration in Thailand at the 60, 150 and 240 day stage (fee 1900 baht per 30 day extension) and also setting your foot over the border at the 90 and 180 day stage.

Best place to obtain a triple would be Penang Malaysia............a triple is possible depending upon how they feel on the day, but a double entry is almost a certainty.....a double would however only give you a maximum of 180 days stay with 30 day extensions at the 60 and 150 day stages and 1 step over the border at the 90 day stage.

If you were only granted a double entry tourist visa in Penang there is nothing to stop you going back after the 180 day stay and obtaining a fresh double entry.

[bkk_mike]

Actually - if he's 46, and is willing to spend 1m baht for the "priviledge", wouldn't the Thailand Elite card suit him down to the ground - 5 year visa...

Although 1m baht does pay for a lot of flights to Singapore / Penang / Vientiane for visa runs, etc.

Also, even with the Elite card - you'd have a 3-monthly trip to immigration.

Depends how much 1m baht is to you...

Edited April 25, 2005 by bkk_mike

[lopburi3]

Actually - if he's 46, and is willing to spend 1m baht for the "priviledge", wouldn't the Thailand Elite card suit him down to the ground - 5 year visa...

Although 1m baht does pay for a lot of flights to Singapore / Penang / Vientiane for visa runs, etc.

Also, even with the Elite card - you'd have a 3-monthly trip to immigration.

Depends how much 1m baht is to you...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I believe you do indeed have runs to immigration with the Elite card - to extend your 90 day entry - unless the new improved version is different.

[Mark Wolfe]

OK, ...

So my "home country" is Taiwan, where I have been for the past 20 years (I hold a US passport).

I went to the de facto embassy here and they said getting a non-imm multi visa is only possible via the business option. The $$$ in my bank account was of no interest to them. They also said that to even think of getting that kind of visa, I would first have to get a "B" single entry visa (good for 3 months) then leave and apply for the mulitple entry one (no guarantee Taipei would agree to issue one, though).

So here is the simple deal: I want to leave Taiwan and go to Thailand for up to one year. I have enough money such that I need not work (nor do I intend to seek work). I don't care what sort of visa I get, but obviously the one that entails the least border-hopping is best and I would not like to have to go to Australia first.

What is wrong with getting the "B" visa paperwork and sending it and my passport to a relative in the States and having her apply for me and then send the passport back? (She also has power of attorney for me).

There must be a simple way to do this (hopefully...).

Any sound advice?

Mark

PS. Is the single entry 3 month visa extendable within Thailand? If so, how many times?

[lopburi3]

Somehow we seem to have lost seven months.

To apply for a visa you need to be in the jurisdiction of the issuing authority or Thailand has no reason to accept it. You would not be.

A B visa of any type is not issued without paperwork that you do not seem to have. Unless you have found a job opening during the missing months.

A B visa would not be converted into a multi entry and a multi entry would not be issued without a work permit. Again something you would not have.

The single entry is only extendable inside Thailand if you have a work permit and income of your nationality. Again a dead end.

There is no reason you could not come on a two or three entry tourist visa which, with extensions, allows up to 90 days prior to a visa run if you just plan to chill out and not work for others. You could probably obtain another in Penang to make it a full year or more.

Of course if you think about it a little longer you may be age 50 and able to receive a retirement extension of stay by the time you arrive.

[Mark Wolfe]

Somehow we seem to have lost seven months.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It was a hel_l of a party, let me tell you....

The people at the de facto embassy here say that the single entry visa is for 3 months. They say that it either can be extended or not (helpful, yes?).

Sounds like "get a visa and take a punt."

Just don't want to miss an angle that could make the best of the situation I need.

Thanks,

Mark

[lopburi3]

Somehow we seem to have lost seven months.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It was a hel_l of a party, let me tell you....

The people at the de facto embassy here say that the single entry visa is for 3 months. They say that it either can be extended or not (helpful, yes?).

Sounds like "get a visa and take a punt."

Just don't want to miss an angle that could make the best of the situation I need.

Thanks,

Mark

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Or one bad case of writers block. A single entry B visa would allow a 90 day stay but unless you have a business or a job offer is not likely to be easily obtained. They are right that it can be extended if you meet the requirements; many don't (even those that do have work permits).

[Mark Wolfe]

So if I get this right, basically, just get a tourist visa and do the extentions.

I notice a sponsor here selling business sponsorships, but the visa would have to be obtained in a friendly country. I assume this company is not bogus.

Thanks for the input.

By the way, after 20 years here, pulling up all the roots is not something I needed to do all at once. Not to mention various other personal mini-traumas that needed to be put to rest first. At any rate, patience is a value well worth having in Thailand, yes?

See you all in Samui in January....; )